Sneak Preview: Dodge Durango Hemi R/T Concept

Dodge puts "sport" back in sport/utility vehicle

With the introduction of the Dodge Durango HEMI R/T Concept at this year's North American International Auto Show, the Chrysler Group gave enthusiasts a sneak peek at a thinly disguised version of the next-generation Durango (set to appear in the fall of 2003 as an '04 model). Similar to the Pacifica Concept shown at last year's NAIAS, the Durango HEMI R/T Concept previews the bold new look of a product that Dodge hopes will put it squarely on mainstream SUV-buyer's radar, with a distinction that'll set it apart in a field that's become increasingly crowded, not only with traditional SUVs, but with car-based crossover vehicles populating the marketplace.

The audacious and powerful Dodge Durango Concept is seven inches longer--more than three inches taller and four and a half inches wider than the current-generation Durango. The enlarged exterior results in a roomier interior that provides increased head, shoulder, and hip room and more comfortable accommodations for up to seven occupants.

Styling and Design Given that the Durango Concept is HEMI powered, it's tough to say which is its most important attribute: the bold styling or its namesake drivetrain. Since its bold exterior is the first thing that'll attract the eye, even before the key is put in the ignition, we think it logical to start here.

Vehicle manufacturers talk all the time of design DNA, and Dodge is no exception. Since the introduction of the Viper and the first-generation Dodge Ram pickup, the Dodge design team has worked hard to develop a strong family design-identity within all its vehicle lines, from the smallest Neon to the biggest Ram 3500 pickups. The Durango Concept clearly continues this trend, from its cross-hair grille to the tips of its twin satin rear-exhaust tips.

"The Dodge Durango R/T HEMI Concept is not a 'me, too' design--that will not be tolerated at Dodge," says Trevor M. Creed, senior vice president of design, Chrysler Group. "Our goal was to create something more architectural than agricultural, but a vehicle that still delivers power on every front, from its dramatic design to its HEMI engine."

Getting a first look at the Liquid Graphite Metallic Durango R/T HEMI Concept, we'd say that Creed and his design team have succeeded, building not only upon the design of the current Durango, along with the newest Viper and Ram, but of several of Dodge's well- received recent concept trucks, most notably the muscular stature of the '99 Power Wagon and the passenger-priority position of the 2000 MAXXcab's A-pillar, with some elements of last year's M80 pickup. Considering its look of machined elegance, and its wheels pushed out to the extremes (courtesy of its 199.2-inch wheelbase), the Durango Concept's look is distinctive in a sea of lookalike SUVs. It's unmistakably a Dodge and pulls together the form first seen in the '01 Dodge truck concept, the Power Box.

Part of the Durango's overall appearance comes from the designer's attempt to incorporate the look and feel of modern dive watches, combining a muscular definition and taut lines. The short overhangs, powerful wheel arches, and dramatically sloping windshield contribute to its unique silhouette. The exterior benefits from an evolution of the classic postwar Dodge Power Wagon, updated with satin silver accents, a billet grille with satin silver finish, and single headlamp covers that conceal dual headlights surrounding its trademark cross-hair grille.

Boldly flared wheel arches and drop shoulder fenders dominate the side profile. The wheelwells are filled by a combination of 21-inch wheels and massive 265/50 21 Goodyear HP tires, adding a sense of strength to the design. Continuity is provided by the lower side fascia and sills that blend the power from the front-wheel arches into the rear-wheel housings. (When the '04 Durango appears in the fall, expect it to be equipped with a less-aggressive 18- or 20-inch wheel/tire combination. After all, 20-inch wheels are the biggest factory fitment on the full-size Ram.)

At the rear, you'll encounter many custom sport-truck elements, ruled by integrated rear optics. This is combined with the Frenched "afterburner" taillamps that recall the '99 Dodge Power Wagon pickup concept vehicle. The distinctive rear-fascia design features dual rear exhausts tipped in satin- finish aluminum.

Powertrain The next Durango is fully expected to follow the lead of the concept, and when it comes to power, the SUV category will get a new sheriff powered by a 345-horsepower version of the 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum V-8 with 375 lb-ft of torque, borrowed from the recently introduced heavy-duty Rams. The combination of this much power, installed in a smaller-than-full-size SUV, promises exceptional performance within the category.

As in the full-size Ram, the 5.7-liter HEMI offers improved fuel efficiency over the vintage, outgoing 5.9-liter V-8, while providing a healthy bump in horsepower over even the high-output version of the 4.7-liter SOHC V-8 available in the Jeep Grand Cherokee (the high-output version of the 4.7-liter V-8 wasn't offered in the current Durango). This engine is mated to a new heavy-duty five-speed automatic transmission. The full-time four-wheel-drive Durango Concept also features a standard electronic transfer case with low range.

Transmitting all this power to the ground requires an uprated suspension. "All that HEMI power needs a suspension to match, and we set out to create one of the best-handling SUVs ever made," says Frank Klegon, vice president of the Dodge Truck Product Team. "We developed an all-new 100-percent hydroformed frame that provides increased torsional stiffness and improved ride quality, but not at the expense of the towing, hauling, and off-road capability Durango is known for."

The extra-stiff hydroformed frame is connected to an all-new independent front suspension with a rack-and-pinion steering system for an even more precise feel. While the Durango Concept retains a solid rear axle, an all-new rear suspension featuring coil springs delivers a smooth ride, yet maintains durability, payload, and towing capability that's essential to the traditional Durango owner. A Watt link system is fitted to the rear axle, centering the axle and reducing rearend skate over rough surfaces. While this lacks some of the sophistication of the Explorer's independent setup, it remains a well-proven and durable design that still allows the Durango Concept's third-row seat to fold flat into the floor, as it does on the current version.

"With this Concept Durango, we've taken many of the lessons learned on the design of our new Dodge Ram pickups in the areas of hydroforming and suspension tuning," Klegon says. "What we've delivered is an exceptional-handling SUV that breaks away from the ever-crowded lookalike pack in a way that only Dodge could."

With the kind of power Klegon installed under the Durango's hood, and even with an anticipated weight of nearly 5000 pounds, the SUV should boast an impressive power-to-weight ratio approaching that of a BMW X5 4.6is or even the new, normally aspirated Porsche Cayenne. If Dodge is serious and brings a HEMI-power Durango to market, expect it to be at or near the top of the SUV performance food chain--a welcome prospect for a body-on-frame, truck-based SUV with a fully equipped price under $40,000. Also rumored, for Chrysler's next-generation rear-drive LX large cars (Chrysler 300, Dodge Intrepid) is an aluminum version of the HEMI. Hmmm...an aluminum 5.7-liter HEMI underhood of the next Durango? That's a tasty prospect, especially if the PVO (Performance Vehicle Operations) team applies its wrenches with the same abandon it has with the Neon SRT-4 and upcoming Ram SRT-10. Can a Durango SRT-8 be waiting in the wings for '05?

Interior On the inside, the Durango Concept is bigger than its predecessor in almost every dimension. Interior capacity is increased 15 percent, enhanced by the concept's fold-flat cargo floor, and it's now able to carry the industry-standard 4x8 sheet of plywood between the wheelwells with the second- and third-row seats folded.

Since the Durango Concept is what DaimlerChrysler representatives say is about 85 percent production ready, the interior eschews some of the more fanciful elements found in concept vehicles such as last year's M80 pickup. The Durango will seat seven comfortably; its seating surfaces swathed in Dark Slate Gray leather with Adobe accents.

The Concept bristles with advanced safety, entertainment, and telematics technology. Driver enhancements include integrated navigation and a hands-free cellular-phone system utilizing Blue Tooth technology. With DaimlerChrysler supporting the Sirius satellite-radio format, expect to see this feature fully integrated into the next Durango's entertainment system.

The instrument panel follows some of the same design themes of the current- generation Ram pickup, but one can not help but notice that the traditional Chrysler 1.5-DIN radio has been abandoned for a larger component dominated by a large LCD screen, looking similar to units found in Mercedes-Benz products. With this the next Durango, and other future Chrysler Group products, will be able to offer a host of advanced infotainment functions.

What some might forget, with all the recent introductions of SUVs and crossovers featuring third-row seating capabilities, that in the compact/midsize SUV category, it was in the current-generation Durango, which debuted in 1998, that first offered this now seemingly obligatory feature. The Dodge Durango Concept delivers more passenger and cargo room than ever before and provides innovative packaging that delivers seating for seven.

The safety features include side-curtain airbags for all three rows of seating, a tire-pressure-monitoring system, adjustable pedals, and standard four-wheel disc ABS. A center-mounted three-point shoulder belt is incorporated into the second-row seating area.

One obstacle for designers of the next Durango was how to get a distinctive shape out of something that's essentially two boxes and, more to the point, an oversize version of what was once called a station wagon. They were further restricted by having to get their design properly proportioned within the tight constraints of a package that needs to fit in the narrowing chasm between traditional midsize (Ford Explorer) and full-size (Ford Expedition) SUVs.

With the next-generation Durango, the Dodge Boys clearly have the class-leading Ford Explorer in its cross hairs more than ever before. Knowing much of the concept's bold new design is slated to be incorporated into the next-generation Durango (set to appear as an '04 model), we're looking to see Dodge work to close the sales gap between the models. In '02, the Durango, in the sixth year of its current design, sold 99,498 units, while the Explorer battled with the Toyota Camry for the title of the best-selling vehicle in North America. With a design that's more than two years newer than its Blue Oval rival, look for Dodge to put a sizeable dent in the difference, just as it did in 1994 in the full-size-pickup segment, with the introduction of the radically new Dodge Ram.